Zack Lee and Johan Seong

[=> You can see it as either platonic or romantic. It's up to you]

★ Songs that fits them [Pt.1]

- Faint by Linkin Park

I REALLY like this band, and recently I've been hearing to them a LOT. I was hearing to Faint again for the umpteenth time and that's when I suddenly realized that this song described the bond between Johan and Zack really well?!! Like, how their bond had been most of the time before the trio reunited again.

Like, the pre-chorus goes like this:

"So I let go, watching you

Turn your back like you always do"

All those times where they'd fought and it always ended up with Johan turning his back to Zack. And Zack watching him walk away.

"Face away and pretend that I'm not

But I'll be here 'cause you're all that I got"

You could perhaps interpret it like Johan pretended that Zack wasn't really trying to bring him back or smth. Perhaps he initially tried to think of it that way so he wouldn't have any confounding factors with achieving his goals which might trigger Johan's inner longing to return to his home sooner, but he knew he couldn't yet.

Zack was always determined to bring him back because they were friends.

And then the refrain goes like this:

"Don't turn your back on me, I won't be ignored

Time won't heal this damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me, I won't be ignored"

Zack didn't want Johan to turn his back on him. And he felt kinda ignored since Johan wouldn't stay and return.

Verse 2 starts with this:

"I am a little bit insecure, a little unconfident"

Zack was, indeed, insecure and unconfident at that time. He hadn't won a fight in a long time. He would always lose to Johan. And also that panel where Johan said: "You think you're strong enough to save me?! Who could you possibly beat?"

I'm sure that Johan said this because he didn't want Zack to get hurt unnecessarily because of him. They were in a fight with strong opponents in that chapter after all. But still, this line increased Zacks already heightened insecurity.

"'Cause you don't understand, I do what I can, but sometimes I don't make sense"

Johan didn't understand why Zack was like this, always being so determined on bringing him back even though Zack didn't stand a chance back then. But he was trying his best. He was doing everything he could do. And maybe sometimes Zack himself didn't even know why he was like this.

"It's like, no matter what I do, I can't convince you for once just to hear me out"

That line describes perfectly how it has been with him and Johan. No matter what he do to convince Johan to come back home, Johan wouldn't be convinced.

And lastly, this part of the song:

"No, hear me out now

You're gonna listen to me, like it or not

Right now, hear me out now"

On one panel, when Zack found Johan again, he said: "If you refuse to go, I'm gonna beat you up and drag you there", while throwing a punch at him, which indicated he would bring Johan home, regardless of what Johans answer would be. Zack was ready to drag him home, even if Johan was beaten up to a pulp, wether he like it or not.

once again…i am back on my bullshit but this time it is zackjohan…this was supposed to be a quick cute 1k words and somehow became 12k dont ask me how i don’t know either TTTT

Anon ask from my main. First 2 lines from prompt. Can be read as platonic or romantic

"But... How could you love me?" Johan mumbles.

"How could I not?" Zack returns the question to his dearest.

How? There's a million reasons how.

Because Johan is a fuck up.

Because he abandoned Zack, because he abandoned Mira, because he abandoned his own goddamn mother.

Because he thinks running from his trauma is the same as overcoming it.

Because everytime Zack calls, he is too much of a coward to pick up the phone.

Because only in the dead of night is he brave enough to listen to the voicemails. To allow himself the indulgence of hearing his best friend's voice.

... And once he heard the words in the last message, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

Zack says it like it's easy. The three little words: 'I' and 'love' and 'you. Like it is obvious, expected, the most natural thing in the world. No hesitation, no pausing before they tumble out of his mouth and into Johan's ears.

That phrase, maddening in its simplicity, in the promises it could hold.

Like love is still attainable for someone like Johan.

"Johan? You still there?"

Johan nods before realising Zack wouldn't be able to see.

"I- " Johan isn't able to return the affection. The words stay lodged in his throat, suffocating him to the end. "Yeah. Yeah, I am," he instead breathes down the phone.

A chuckle. "Good."

This call is a mistake. It's a daydream turned into a nightmare of what he couldn't have. Of a path if Pungsan didn't happen, and if fate didn't afflict him and his mother with unavoidable blindness.

"I gotta go."

"Oh... Ok." Johan can hear the frown on Zack's lips at the abrupt dismissal. "Come visit soon though, yeah? We all miss you."

"...Maybe."

It's an empty maybe that means no.

Johan:

Zack: but not in a gay way!

Johan:

Zack: but if I was gay-